BC-AP Top Stories Digest

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EST. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org

----------------

NEW & DEVELOPING

----------------

OHIO FAMILY KILLED — Authorities say a family of four has been arrested in the slayings of eight members of another family in rural Ohio two years ago. SENT: 130 words.

----------------

ONLY ON AP

----------------

CIA-INTERROGATION DRUGS — Shortly after 9/11, the CIA hunted for a drug that would work like a truth serum and force terror suspects to cough up information about impending attacks. A newly declassified CIA report being released Tuesday by the American Civil Liberties Union says the agency settled on a certain sedative, but then decided against getting permission to use it. The report addresses ethical issues CIA medical personnel faced while working with detainees being harshly interrogated at black sites abroad. By Deb. Riechmann. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.

----------------

TOP STORIES

----------------

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE — Authorities ramp up the search for more victims of the deadliest, most destructive wildfire in California history, as the investigation into the cause of the inferno appears to zero in on a major utility’s power lines. The death toll stands at 42 and is likely to rise. By Gillian Flaccus and Martha Mendoza. SENT: 700 words. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos, by 4 p.m.

AMAZON HQ — Amazon, which has grown too big for its Seattle hometown, is splitting its much-anticipated headquarters between New York and Arlington, Virginia. Each will get 25,000 high-paid tech jobs that could help revitalize neighborhoods that didn’t have many businesses in them to begin with. But they’ll pay for it: New York is forking over more than $1.5 billion in tax credits and other incentives, while Arlington is offering about a third of that, at $573 million. By Joseph Pisani. SENT: 500 words, photos, video. Will be updated.

ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS — Hamas and other Gaza militant groups say they have accepted an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire after launching hundreds of rockets into Israel over the past 24 hours and weathering a wave of punishing Israeli airstrikes. By Aron Heller and Fares Akram. SENT: 900 words, photos.

TRUMP-WHITAKER — Maryland is challenging the appointment of Matthew Whitaker as the new U.S. acting attorney general, arguing that President Donald Trump sidestepped the Constitution and the Justice Department’s own succession plan by elevating Whitaker to the top job. Lawyers for the state say the job should have gone to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. By Eric Tucker. SENT 440 words, photo. UPCOMING: 600 words by 5 p.m., photos.

ELECTION 2018-FLORIDA-THE SUPERVISOR — At the center of Florida’s vote recount storm is an elections supervisor with a checkered past whose Democratic-dominated county has been the target of protests and accusations, including by President Trump, that something fraudulent is afoot. By Curt Anderson. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 3 p.m.

BREXIT — After months of stalled talks, false starts and setbacks, negotiators from Britain and the European Union have struck a proposed divorce deal to provide for the U.K.’s smooth exit from the bloc. By Jill Lawless. SENT: 800 words, photos. UPCOMING: Developing.

AFGHANISTAN-COST OF WAR — When U.S. forces and their Afghan allies rode into Kabul in November 2001 they were greeted as liberators. But after 17 years of war, the Taliban have retaken half the country, security is worse than it’s ever been, and many Afghans place the blame squarely on the Americans. The United States has lost more than 2,400 soldiers in its longest war, and has spent more than $900 billion on everything from military operations to the construction of roads, bridges and power plants. Three U.S. presidents have pledged to bring peace to Afghanistan, either by adding or withdrawing troops, by engaging the Taliban or shunning them. Last year, the U.S. dropped the “mother of all bombs” on a cave complex. By Kathy Gannon. SENT: 1,030 words, photos.

ELECTION 2018-GEORGIA-GOVERNOR — Georgia’s still undecided race for governor will remain in legal limbo for several more days after a federal court put the brakes on final certification of the vote totals. SENT: 1,200 words, photos.

------------------

WASHINGTON

------------------

TRUMP-STAFF SHAKEUP — President Donald Trump has soured on his Homeland Security secretary and Kirstjen Nielsen is expected to leave her job, perhaps as soon as this week. Trump is said to blame Nielsen for not doing more to address what he sees as a crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump was widely expected to shake up his Cabinet after the midterm elections and rumors are swirling about the status of a number of department heads. By Colleen Long and Zeke Miller. SENT: 590 words. UPCOMING: 800 words by 5 p.m., photos.

TRUMP-STAFF SHAKEUP — President Donald Trump has soured on his Homeland Security secretary and Kirstjen Nielsen is expected to leave her job, perhaps as soon as this week. Trump is said to blame Nielsen for not doing more to address what he sees as a crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump was widely expected to shake up his Cabinet after the midterm elections and rumors are swirling about the status of a number of department heads. By Colleen Long and Zeke Miller. SENT: 590 words. UPCOMING: 800 words by 5 p.m., photos.

CONGRESS-NEW MEMBERS — Don’t hire someone you can’t fire, like the son of a campaign donor or the child of the mayor. No matter what you may have said during the campaign about changing Congress, hire enough Hill veterans to make the office run smoothly. And make sure the person answering the phone sounds like folks from back home. That’s some of the advice for incoming House freshmen streaming into Washington for orientation. By Laurie Kellman. SENT: 870 words. UPCOMING: Updates throughout the day, 880 words by 5 p.m., photos.

-------------

NATIONAL

-------------

EL CHAPO-PROSECUTION — A federal jury in New York City will hear an epic tale about the notorious Mexican drug lord known as “El Chapo;” opening statements are delayed while a replacement jury is selected. SENT: 800 words, photos.

--------------------

INTERNATIONAL

--------------------

GREECE-LOST CITY — Greece’s culture ministry says archaeologists have located the first tangible remains of a lost ancient city that, according to tradition, was first settled by Trojan war captives after the Greek sack of Troy. SENT: 450 words, photos.

UPDATING THE KILO — The kilogram is getting an update as governments later this week are expected to approve plans to instead use a scientific formula to define mass, essential for things like trade. SENT: 900 words, photos.

AMAZON HQ-TWO CITIES — A look at New York’s Long Island City and Crystal City in northern Virginia. Both are riverfront stretches of major metropolitan areas with ample transportation and space for workers, but there are plenty of differences between them. A version of this story moved previously and has been updated with developments. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.